Actuation device for the weft inserter rod of a loom having two parallel loom bodies

ABSTRACT

An actuation device for effecting reciprocable motion of a weft inserter rod between two associated loom bodies comprises a carriage reciprocably movable and carrying a pair of pulley wheels. A further pair of pulley wheels is journalled each beyond one of the extreme positions of motion of the carriage, and transmission means with fixed ends are positioned over the pulley wheels, whereby the motion of the carriage causes an intermediate portion of the transmission means to perform a reciprocating motion of a greater amplitude than that of the carriage, and drive means connecting the transmission means to the weft inserter rod.

United States Patent 1 Larsson ACTUATION DEVICE FOR THE WEFT INSERTER ROD OF A LOOM HAVING TWO PARALLEL LOOM BODIES [76] Inventor: Sten Herbert Larsson,

Hulebacksvagen 20. Miilnlycke, Sweden [22] Filed: July 26, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 492,098

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 3ll.328, Dec. l, 1972,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 139/123 [51] Int. Cl D03d 47/00 [58] Field of Search l39/l22, 127

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,l-65.890 7/1939 Foster l39/l23 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,209,300 9/]959 France l39/l23 June 10, 1975 l/l955 ltaly l39/l23 487,77l 12/1929 Germany l39/l23 Primary Examineri-lenry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or FirmGordon W. Hueschen [57] ABSTRACT An actuation device for effecting reciprocable motion of a weft inserter rod between two associated loom bodies comprises a carriage reciprocably movable and carrying a pair of pulley wheels. A further pair of pulley wheels is journalled each beyond one of the extreme positions of motion of the carriage, and transmission means with fixed ends are positioned over the pulley wheels, whereby the motion of the carriage causes an intermediate portion of the transmission means to perform a reciprocating motion of a greater amplitude than that of the carriage, and drive means connecting the transmission means to the weft inserter rod.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure so v v u I. l y l ACTUATION DEVICE FOR THE WFFT INSERTER ROD OF A LOOM HAVING TWO PARALLEL LOOM BODIES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 31 L328, filed Dec. l, l972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an actuation device for the weft inserter rod of looms having two associated loom bodies. Actuation devices of this kind are known, for instance, in the German Laid Open print No. l,O78,95S and US. Pat. No. 3,391 ,7 l4. The two loom bodies are entirely conventional with all conventional members. The loom bodies are separated by a space, which is necessary for the different movable parts of the loom, among which is the weft inserter. This is shaped as a rod that is moved reciprocably between the loom bodies, whereby it is introduced into the shed of one loom body, while being removed from the shed of the other loom body and vice-versa. In prior art devices, the lateral movements of the weft inserter rod are limited since they cannot be greater than the width of the space between the loom bodies. With narrow loom bodies this need not be a particular drawback, but with loom bodies, the width of which can amount to several meters, space of the same order of size is a great technical drawback in many respects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By means ofa device according to the invention, the amplitude of movement of the weft inserter rod can be made larger than the space between the loom bodies.

The invention, therefore, provides an actuation device comprising a carriage reciprocably rectilinearly movable and rotatably carrying a pair of pulley wheels, a further pair of pulley wheels each rotatably journalled beyond a respective one of the extreme positions of motion of the carriage, elongate transmission means having fixed ends for positioning over the pulley wheels to form a pair of interconnected pulleys, whereby the motion of the carriage causes an intermediate portion of the transmission means to perform a reciprocating motion of a greater amplitude than that of the carriage, and drive means connecting the transmission means to the weft inserter rod.

Suitable gearing between the transmission means and the rod can amplify still more the difference in amplitude. Further, the device according to the invention may permit adjustability of the amplitude of the motion of the weft inserter rod, a feature that is not revealed in the earlier patent letters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be made clear by the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows in perspective an actuation device according to the invention. In the drawing, for the sake of clearness, all details that are not absolutely necessary for the description of the invention have been omitted.

In the drawing the inner edge of the two parallel loom bodies are indicated by means of dot-and-dash lines 1 and 2. A weft inserter rod 3 is movable transversely relative thereto in the space therebetween as indicated by the double arrow. (Thread catching means etc, are not shown in the drawing.) The weft inserter rod 3 slides partly on a slide (not shown), and partly at each end on the warp threads in each respective loom body shed. The ends of the weft inserter rod are connected to the extremities of a driving chain 4, that runs over a driving wheel 5, against which the chain is held by means of two chain wheels or pinions 6 and 7, journalled for easy movement. The axles of the wheels 5, 6 and 7 are firmly joined to the frame of the loom. The driving wheel 5 is fixed on a shaft 8 which carries a chain wheel 9 also firmly connected to the shaft. Around this wheel a driving or pulley chain [0 is fitted. The chain runs firstly over a pair of fixedly journalled chain wheels I l and I2 and then around a pair of pulley wheels 13 and 14, firmly journaled on a sliding carriage described in more detail hereinafter. The chain then runs around a further pair of pulley wheels 15 and 16, firmly journalled on the frame of the loom, finally being deviated by two deviating pinions 17 and 18 firmly journalled on the sliding carriage and terminating in respective fixing points secured at 19 and 20 to the carriage.

The sliding carriage consists of two vertical members 21, interconnected at the top and the bottom by crosspieces 22 so as to define between the members 21 a vertical interspace or slot 23 of uniform breadth. The sliding carriage can run reciprocably horizontally on two guides 24, one at the top and one at the bottom, which also form steering members for the horizontal movement. A large driving wheel 25 is rotatably mounted at the end of a shaft (not shown) projecting from the other side of the wheel, and firmly journalled on the frame, and carries a roller 26 for cooperation with the aforementioned slot 23 in the sliding carriage. The roller 26 is fixed to the wheel 25 by a journal bolt displaceably arranged in a radial slot 27 therein. By displacing the journal bolt in the radial slot 27, as easily understood, the amplitude of the motion of the sliding carriage can be adjusted. The wheel 25 is driven by a chain 29 from a gear 28. The means for driving the gear 28 is not shown in the drawing but may suitably consist of V-belt drives, from an electric motor arranged to include speed reduction whereby a small high speed motor may be employed.

The device as shown in the drawing operates in the following way. In the drawing it is shown in its middle position with the weft inserter rod in a middle position wherein each end is positioned partially within the shed of the respective loom body. If the wheel 25 moves clockwise, from this starting position the sliding carriage will be moved rightwards. After a quarter of a revolution of the wheel 25 the sliding carriage arrives in its extreme right position; after further turning of the wheel 25 the carriage reverses and goes leftwards, passing the middle position and from there goes to its extreme left position, reverses again and goes back. At uniform rotation of the wheel 25, the sliding carriage 21 performs simple harmonic motion which has the advantageous qualities for this purpose that the carriage has its lowest speed at the reversing positions and the highest speed at the middle position. During the movements of the sliding carriage in one or the other directions, the wheels ll-l6 act as a pulley with the result, as will be easily understood, that the chain 10 is displaced in one or the other direction respectively a distance 3 times longer than the displacement of the sliding carriage. Owing to the ratio between the wheels 5 and 9 there is a further increase of the motion of the carriage. if this ratio is 4. for instance, the total increase of the movement of the rod 3 will be 12 times. If the movement of the sliding carriage is 0.5 m. the movement of the weft inserter rod will be 6 m. Thus it is possible. even with very wide loom bodies. to find place for the actuation device within a minimum of space between the loom bodies, where the whole device can be enclosed in a cabinet in which also the driving motor is located.

If the fixing points 19 and 20 of the chain 10 are removed from the sliding carriage to a pair of external points 19' and 20' fixed on the frame. a pulley ratio of 4 times is obtained. According to the drawing, such a removing is prepared by the pinions l7 and 18 which otherwise would not have any purpose. since then the fixing points could as well be placed direct on the sliding carriage without bending of the chain. For manual adjustment it is useful to combine the driving wheel 28 with a hand wheel or a hand disc 30. whereby the whole device can be given a slow manual displacement for examination of the particular functions etc. The normal operation. indeed. can and should take place with several strokes per second. which excludes detailed observation of the different phases of movement. Before starting. a manual pulling can be useful.

The actuation device can include a mechanical speed variator for variation of the rate of motion. wide webs requiring lower speed than narrow ones. For the same purpose the driving motor can be provided with speed regulation. As movement transmission means chains have proved to be suitable. The drawing shows single chains. however the chains 10 and 29 that transmit the largest forces can be double chains. the relevant chains wheels. also being double. The chain 4 is exposed to the smallest force but also to the greatest speed and must above all be light and easily movable and therefore is as a rule single.

As the movement transmissions means chains have proved to be most useful, owing to their robustness and long life. The invention, however, is not bound to the use of chains, other transmission means being possible. for instance perforated steel ribbons. But it is necessary that all members that must be mutually synchronized are driven by transmission means which cannot slip.

The alternating movement of the sliding carriage can be obtained by other means from that shown in the drawing. for instance by means of a crank arm and a connecting-rod which. however, gives a certain deviation from simple harmonic motion.

The embodiment shown in the drawing with the sliding carriage path perpendicular to the paths of fabric provides many practical advantages but other embodiments are possible. however. for instance with the sliding carriage path lengthwise in the space between the loom bodies. but if so an angular linkage of the movement of the carriage to that of the weft inserter rod must be incorporated.

The thorough guiding of the sliding carriage for parallel movement is an important practical detail. In practice. there are generally provided additional guiding sliding means requiring an extension of the guides. The guides can be round shafts instead of bars. and then the sliding means of the carriage can be arranged to clasp the shafts. The guides may also include rollers instead of merely sliding.

What I claim is;

I. An apparatus useful for imparting a reciprocable harmonic motion to a weft inserter rod in associated looms having parallel paths of fabric and being laterally separated by a space.

said apparatus comprising in combination a. a carriage which is arranged in said space and is slidably mounted on guides for horizontal reciprocable movement in a direction transverse to said paths; said guides being mounted to the loom frames.

b. two pairs of chain wheels which are symmetrically journalled on said movable carriage;

c. two other pairs of chain wheels which are stationary and symmetrically journalled on the loom frames;

d. a driven chain wheel which is stationary jour nailed between said looms, and a driving means for said wheel;

e. a driving pin protruding parallel to the axis of said driving chain wheel and being lockable in desired positions in a radial slot in said driven wheel. said pin extending into a vertical slot in the carriage to impart thereto a simple harmonic horizontal motion. when said driven chain wheel is rotated;

f. a shaft located between said looms and parallel to said axis;

g. a first chain wheel on said shaft;

all said chain wheels being located in a common vertical plane transverse to said paths;

h. a first chain laid over all said chain wheels;

i. means for fixing the ends of said chain on one of said movable carriage and said frame structure. whereby fixing said chain ends on said movable carriage provides a movement gear ratio between carriage and chain of 3. and whereby fixing said chain ends on said frame structure provides a movement gear ratio between carriage and chain of 4;

j. a second chain wheel on said central shaft. lo cated in a second plane parallel to said first plane;

k. a pair of chain-wheels symmetrically journalled on the loom frames in said second plane;

I. a second chain laid over all said wheels in said second plane. said second chain having its ends connected to the end portions of said rod.

2. An apparatus according to claim I, wherein said driving means comprises a further chain wheel mounted on a drive shaft. and an endless chain laid over said further chain wheel and said driven chain wheel.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a hand wheel is mounted on said drive shaft to permit slow manual driving of the apparatus for checking the end positions of said weft inserter rod.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chain ends are fixed on said movable carriage.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chain ends are fixed on said frame structure.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second chain wheel is greater than the first wheel on said shaft. 

1. An apparatus useful for imparting a reciprocable harmonic motion to a weft inserter rod in associated looms having parallel paths of fabric and being laterally separated by a space, said apparatus comprising in combination a. a carriage which is arranged in said space and is slidably mounted on guides for horizontal reciprocable movement in a direction transverse to said paths; said guides being mounted to the loom frames, b. two pairs of chain wheels which are symmetrically journalled on said movable carriage; c. two other pairs of chain wheels which are stationary and symmetrically journalled on the loom frames; d. a driven chain wheel which is stationary journalled between said looms, and a driving means for said wHeel; e. a driving pin protruding parallel to the axis of said driving chain wheel and being lockable in desired positions in a radial slot in said driven wheel, said pin extending into a vertical slot in the carriage to impart thereto a simple harmonic horizontal motion, when said driven chain wheel is rotated; f. a shaft located between said looms and parallel to said axis; g. a first chain wheel on said shaft; all said chain wheels being located in a common vertical plane transverse to said paths; h. a first chain laid over all said chain wheels; i. means for fixing the ends of said chain on one of said movable carriage and said frame structure, whereby fixing said chain ends on said movable carriage provides a movement gear ratio between carriage and chain of 3, and whereby fixing said chain ends on said frame structure provides a movement gear ratio between carriage and chain of 4; j. a second chain wheel on said central shaft, located in a second plane parallel to said first plane; k. a pair of chain-wheels symmetrically journalled on the loom frames in said second plane; l. a second chain laid over all said wheels in said second plane, said second chain having its ends connected to the end portions of said rod.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a further chain wheel mounted on a drive shaft, and an endless chain laid over said further chain wheel and said driven chain wheel.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a hand wheel is mounted on said drive shaft to permit slow manual driving of the apparatus for checking the end positions of said weft inserter rod.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chain ends are fixed on said movable carriage.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chain ends are fixed on said frame structure.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second chain wheel is greater than the first wheel on said shaft. 